Invoicing-machine.



J. E. BEAN.

.INVOICING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. I915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

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J. E. BEAN.

INVOICING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 191a.

Patented May 2-9, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

J. E. BEAN.

INVOICING' MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 3, 1915.

1 ,228,282. Patented May 29, 1917.

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JOSEPH E. BEAN, OIE WINDOIVI, KANSAS.

INVOICING-MACHINE.

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Application filed April 3, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Josnrr-r E. BEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Windoni, in the county of McPherson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invoicing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to an invoicing and measuring m achine.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of invoicing and measuring machines and to provide a simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive machine adapted to measure correctly all bolt goods such as ribbons, laces, embroideries, braid, floss, et cetera, and capable of unwinding, measuring and rewinding such goods in a neatmanner and with great rapidity whereby a material saving in time, labor and money is effected and absolute ac curacy assured. I

A. further object of the invention is to pro vide a machine of this character equipped with means for enabling the said goods or material to be wound either tight or loose and provided also with means for enabling the boards for holding such material to be quickly and accurately placed in and removed from the machine.

it is also an. object of the invention to pro vide a machine of this character adapter not only for the taking of stock and similar operations but capable of being advantageously. employed in handling goods for the retail sale of the same.

With these and other objects inview the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter tullv described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it'being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings re l first ele ates at an int Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma as, ioiv.

Serial No. 18,985.

voicing and measuring machine constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the other end of the machine,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrat ing the construction of the gripping devices for engaging the boards for holding the material,

F 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the manner of adjustably mounting the gripping devices at one side of the machine,

F 6 is an enlarged detail View illustrating the manner of slidably mounting the pressure roller,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the ends of the pressure roller,

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the counting or registering device,

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the collapsible holder for receiving the material when the machine is employed for selling goods at retail, 7

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the collapsible holder.

Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating another form of gripping device for engaging the spool.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the construction for simultaneously operating the sliding bearings of the pressure roll and the pivotally mounted shield.

Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating a modified form of gripping device support.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures, of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame of the machine is composed of ends 1 and upper and lower horizontal connecting rods 3 and 4 suitably secured at their terminals to the ends of the frame. The machine may be made of any desired size to adapt it for measuring any class of goods or merchandise and the frame may be constructed of cast iron, nickel, bronze, tubing or any other suitable material so as to present a neat and attractive app aran-se and alters the ed St h;

The ends of the frame are preferably open as shown and are provided at their upper portions with bearings 5 for the reception of the shaft 6 of a measuring drum or cylinder 7 constructed of any suitable material and designed to have a circumference of 36 inches or a fraction thereof but a cylinder of any desired size may of course be employed and in some instances adjustable measuring drums or cylinders may be used for varying the size of the circumference. The measuring drum or cylinder is provided at its circumference with projecting points or needles 8 extending outwardly about three-sixtecnths of an inch to enable the measuring drum or cylinder to positively engage the material. The needle points 8 which may be of any desired length are designed to be more numerous at the right hand end of the drum or cylinder than at the other end as a narrow goods such as ribbons, laces, braids and the like will be run through the machine at the right hand end. The measuring drum or cylinder may be of any desired length, say from six inches to thirty-six inches or more and if a long drum or cylinder, say a thirty six inch drum or cylinder is employed it is not necessary to have the needle points dis tributed over the entire surface, and they may as illustrated in Fig. 1 be arranged at the center and each end which will provide an effective engagement with the material and enable the latter to be evenly and accurately run through the machine.

Cooperating with the measuring drum or cylinder is a pressure roller 9 adapted to press the goods firmly against the measuring drum or cylinder and designed in practice to be provided with a yieldable circumferential surface to protect the needle points of the measuring cylinder or drum. The roller may be constructed of cork, rubber or any other suitable material and it can be constructed of soft wood covered with felt or like material.

The pressure roller 9 which is slidable horizontally toward and from the measuring drum or cylinder has the journals or gudgeons of its shaft 10 mounted in bearings of slidable blocks 11 (see Fig. 6) mounted between upper and lower guides 12 arranged in pairs and extending hori zontally from the frame of the machine at the ends thereof. The blocks 11 are pro vided in their upper and lower faces with longitudinal grooves 13 which slidably engage ribs 14 located at the inner faces of and extending longitudinally along the guides or arms 12.

The blocks are urged inwardly toward the measuring cylinder or drum by coiled springs 15 disposed on horizontal pins 16 and interposed between the blocks 11 and adjustable plates 17 provided with central openings 18 to receive the pins 16 and hav ing upper and lower notches 19 for slidably engaging the upper and lower ribs 14 of the horizontal guides or arms 12. The inner end 20 of the pin 16 is reduced and threaded into the adjacent end of the slidable block or bearing 11 and the outer end of the pin projects beyond the plate 17 and extends into a longitudinal opening in the inner end of an adjusting screw 21. The adjusting screw 21 is mounted in a threaded opening 22 of a block 23 which is secured between the outer ends of the guides 01' arms 12. The pin 16 is of a length to extend from the block into the inner end of the adjusting screw 21'when the parts are at the limitof their outward adjustment and the screw 21 which is of a diameter greater than the opening 18 of the plate 17 is adapted to force the latter and the spring inwardly to increase the tension of the spring and apply increased pressure to the material operated on by the machine. The bore or opening 24 ofthe adjusting screw 21 is of sufiicient length to permit the desired adjustment of the spring 15. The spring may be of any desired size and strength to enable the pres sure roll to exert the desired pressure in holding the material against the measuring cylinder or drum. The adjusting screw is provided at its outer end. with a suitable wheel or other operating means for enablin g it to be readily turned to adjust the tension of the spring.

The material measured by the machine is unwound from a bolt located below the measuring cylinder or drum and held by a pair of gripping devices 26 which engage the board 27 centrally of the ends thereof, the boards being preferably provided at their terminals with projections 28 which enable the boards to be quickly and accurately centered when placing them in the machine.

The material unwound from the lower bolt after passing through the measuring mechanism is rewound on another board 29 constructed similarly to" the lower board and held by a pair of gripping devices 26. Each gripping device (see Fig. 4E) which firmly holds the board or cardboard while the goods are being unwound and wound up comprises in its construction a shank 3O exteriorly threaded to receive an adjusting nut 31 and provided with a jaw 32 formed integral with the shank 30 and coacting with a jaw 33 of a lever 84: pivoted at 35 at a pointintermediate of its ends to the shank 30 in a slot or groove thereof. The jaws are provided with serrated or otherwise roughened faces for engaging the ends of the board at the projections 28 thereof and the slots or grooves of the shanks 30 of the gripping devices extend longitudinally thereof. Each of the levers 34 of the gripping devices is provided at the outer end fio with an angularly disposed extension 36 pro ecting upwardly and provided with a head 37 adapted to be depressed by the op erator for opening the jaws against the action of a spring 38 mounted in the slot or groove of the shank and adapted to maintain the jaws normally in engagement with each other. The outer arm of the lever 34 is arranged at an angle or inclination to the vertical when the jaws are closed or in engagement with a board and the jaw 33 of the lever is provided with an inner inclined or angularly disposed portion or face 39 disposed at an obtuse angle to the outer arm of the lever 34 and adapted to be engaged by the nut 31 which preferably consists of the hub portion of a wheel 40 adapted to be rotated to carry the nut into engagement with either of the jaws 33 or the outer portion of the lever 34 whereby the jaw is securely held in either its open or closed position. The operating wheel when run inwardly into engagement with the jaw will tighten the grip on the same and when turned back will open the jaw and maintain the same in its open position. When the nut is at an intermediate point the jaws are adapted to be opened by pressing upon the head 37 and the jaws will be automatically closed by the spring when the head 37 is relieved of pressure. The shanks 30 which are round substantially throughout their entire length have flattened portions to enable them to be clamped in a socket or chuck. The shank of the gripping devices of the upper and lower boards at the right hand side of the machine are secured in sockets 42 of upper and lower stub shafts 43 and 44 by set screws 45 or other suitable fastening devices while the gripping devices at the left hand side of the machine are adjustably and evenly mounted to enable the boards of differenti lengths to be secured within the machine and also to enable boards of uniform length to be readily taken out of and put in the machine without changing the adjustment of the means for holding the gripping devices at the left hand side of the machine. Each of the adjustable devices or adjusting means for holding the gripping devices of the left hand side of the machine comprises a horizontally disposed sleeve or casing 44 (see Fig. 5) rectangular in cross section and adjustably mounted on a horizontal shaft or bar 45 which is secured in an opening of a bracket 46 by a set screw 47 or other suitable fastening means. The sliding movement of the rectangular sleeve on the bar or shaft 45 is preferably limited bya pin or projection 47 mounted on the bar or shaft and operating in a longitudinal slot 48 of the sleeve 44.

The sleeve 44 may be rigidly secured to the shaft or bar 45 by a set screw 49 when desired but the slot pin or projection permits a sliding movement of the sleeve to en able the latter to be moved outwardly against the action of a coiled spring 50 interposed between the inner end of the shaft or bar 45 and the inner end of the stub shaft or spindle 51. The stub shaft or spindle 51, which is provided at its inner end with a socket 52, is mounted in an inner sectional bearing portion 53 of the sleeve and is provided at its outer end with a flange 54 which extends into the adjacent end of the spring 50. The spring 50 fits over the flange 54 and bears against the solid portion of the sleeve 44. The shank of the gripping device is secured in the socket 52 by a set screw 55 or other suitable means and the flange 54 forms a stop for one end of the stub shaft or spindle 51, which is movable outwardly through the slidable connection of the sleeve with the supporting bar to enable the board to be readily disengaged from the jaws of the gripping device. This will enable boards to be rapidly placed in and removed from the machine when operating on material requiring boards of uniform or variable lengths and it is only necessary to push the gripping devices back and insert a spool or bolt and start the machine after the material has been arranged as hereinafter more fully explained.

The adjusting means forv supporting the gripping devices at the left hand side of the machine are braced by slidable bars or members 56 arranged in pairs and extend ing upwardly at an inclination from the bars or rods 3 and 4 and slidably mounted at their lower ends 57 on the same and secured at their upper terminals 58 to the inner ends of the slidable sleeve 44. The upper ends 58 of the braces or bars 56 are bent outwardly at right angles and the fastening devices for securing the removable sections 59 of the bearing of the sleeve 44 are utilized for attaching the upper ends of the braces to the said sleeve. The lower ends 57 of the braces are enlarged and provided with openings to slidably receive the rods 3 and 4 and they are movable along the same to support the adjusting means when the same is arranged for supporting a relatively short board, spool or other materialholding device. When winding ribbon or other material on spools a gripping device similar to that shown in Figs 11 is employed. This gripping device comprises a shank 60 adapted to be secured in a socket and extending through a disk 61 which is provided with spurs or projections 62 for engaging the ends of a spool. The projecting end 63 is tapered or conical to extend into the central opening of a spool and center the latter.

The machine is equipped at its upper portion with a transverse bar 64 (see Fig. 1) preferably extending entire y across the frame of the machine and mounted upon projecting arms or portions 65 thereof and forming a gage or guide in starting the material which is drawn upwardly between the measuring drum or cylinder and the pressure roller until its free edge reaches the bar or rod 6% which constitutes the starting point.

The measuring cylinder or drum is connected by suitable gearing 66 with a count ing or registering device 67 which is set with respect to the starting point of the machine and which accurately indicates the number of yards of the material and the fractions of a yard. As the counting de vice and the gearing for transmitting motion from the measuring cylinder or drum does not constitute a portion of the present invention and as any desired construction of counting device may be employed a detail description and illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

When it is desired to pass the material upwardly between the measuring cylinder or crum and the pressure roller 9 the sliding blocks or bearings of the pressure roller are simultaneously moved outwardly against the action of the springs 15 by means of a lever 68 (see Fig. 12) mounted on a rock shaft 69 which is provided with depending arms 70 that are connected with the blocks by links 71. The rock shaft 69 which is journaled in suitable bearings of the frame of the machine extends entirely across the same and the arms 70 are located at opposite sides of the frame preferably at the inner faces of the ends of the same. The lever 68 is equipped with a dog or detent 72 controlled by a latch lever 73 and adapted to engage a toothedsegment 74: or other suitable means for maintaining the pressure roller out of engagement with the measuring drum or cylinder while the material is being passed between the said parts. In order to prevent the material, while being drawn through the space between the measuring drum or cylinder and the pressure roller from coming into contact with the needle points and partially rotating the measuring drum or cylinder a shield 75 is employed. The shield which consists preferably of a portion of a cylinder is pivotally mounted on the shaft of the measuring drum or cylinder and it is connected by links 76 with arms 77 of the rock shaft 69 so that a single movement of the lever 68 will throw the pressure roller outwardly out of engagement with the measuring drum or cylinder and will partially rotate the shield 75 and carry the same upwardly between the measuring drum or cylinder and the pressure roller.

hen the pressure roller is returned to its engaging position the shield is automatically dropped below the pressureroller to enable the same to force the material tightly against the measuring drum or cylinder.

The upper stub shaft or spindle 43 is equipped at its outer end with a crank handle 78 by means of which the machine is operated and the measuring drum or cylinder and the lower spindle or stub shaft 14 are provided with brakes each consisting of a brake wheel 79 and a brake block 80. The brake wheel 7 9 which has a grooved periphery 81 approximately V-shaped in cross section is engaged by the brake block which is oppositely beveled at its engaging edge 82 to frictionally contact with the grooved periphery of the brake wheel 79. The engaging face of the brake block 80 is curved and the said block is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 83 or other suitable fastening device and it is connected at its other end with a spring 84: by a plate 85. The plate 85 which is secured to the lower edge of the block 80 extends outwardly beyond the free end thereof and it is pierced by the lower end of the coiled spring 8% which is threaded for the reception of a nut 86 or other suitable fastening means for securing the lower end of the spring to the plate 85. The upper end of the coiled spring is connected with a vertically disposed adjusting screw 87 extending through and opening in an L-shaped bracket 88 and equipped with a thumb nut 89. By adjusting the tension of the springs of the brakes of the measuring cylinder or drum and the lower bolt the material may be wound tightly or as loosely as desired and if desired the upper stub shaft 43 may be equipped with a brake similar to those heretofore described for stopping the upper bolt as soon as the machine is released by the operator.

The measuring machine besides being adapted for use in taking stock invoicing and the like is also capable of being advantageously employed in the retail trade for measuring material as it is sold from a bolt or piece and for this purpose the machine is equipped with a collapsible material holder comprising a central shaft 90 having a reduced terminal 91 to be secured in a socket and carrying longitudinal bars or members 92 and 93 which are connected with the shaft by arms 9 1 and 95 pivoted to the shaft 90 for holding the sleeve at the limit of its inward and outward movements. The device is equipped with a coiled spring 99 arranged to engage the inner end of the sleeve for automatically forcing the same outwardly to collapse the device when the latch is released. The sleeve is connected with the bars 92 and 93 by means of inclined links 100 pivoted at their outer ends to the sleeve 96 and to the bars 92 and 93 at the outer ends of the adjacent arms.

In order to enable the material to be securely held in the holder the latter is provided with a pair of the bars 93 (see Fig. 9) which are connected by springs 101 arranged between and secured to the arms or links 95 which are disposed in pairs. The arms 94L are also arranged in pairs but a single bar 92 is secured between the outer ends of the arms 9% as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

The engaging bars 93 are automatically opened against the action of the spring by a fixed device 102 composed of two angularly disposed sides or bars forming a wedge and arranged to extend between the central arms 95. The spreading device 102 increases in width inwardly from the outer end thereof andwhen the holder is collapsed the central arms 95 swing inwardly with respect to the shaft 90 and are forced apart by the said device 102 which is set at an angle to the shaft 90. When the holder is extended and arranged for use the central arms 95 are released by the wedge shaped spreading device to permit the springs 101 to close the bars 93 and firmly grip the material. The material to be measured is placed in the machine at the bottom thereof and the material is partially unwound and is drawn through the space between the measuring cylinder or drum and the pressure roller, previous to which the lever 68 is operated to move the pressure roller outwardly and swing the shield 7 5 upwardly to protect the material from the projections of the measuring cylinder or drum. The material is then drawn up to the gage bar 64 at which point the measuring machine starts its measuring operation. The shield is then swung downwardly and the pressure roller moved inwardly to permit the machine to engage and measure the material which is operated slowly at first to measure a small portion of the material sufiicient to enable it to be connected to the upper board or device on which the material is to be wound to enable the entire bolt or roll to be measured. No claim is made in the present application to the construction of the collapsible holder.

The invoicing and measuring machine is susceptible of various modifications and in Fig. 13 of the drawings is illustrated. a simpler forn'i of device for adjustably mounting the gripping devices at the left hand side of the machine. This device con sists of a bar 103 squared to fit the opening in the bracket 46 and provided with a sectional bearing 104 adapted to receive the stub shaft or spindle 51 which carries the socket or chuck 52.

What is claimed is l. A measuring machine of the class de scribed including a frame, a measuring drum or cylinder journaled in the frame and provided with means for engaging'the material, a slidable spring-actuated pressure roller located in advance of the measuring drum or cylinder and also mounted on the frame, a shield movably mounted on the frame and arranged to be interposed between the measuring drum or cylinder and the pressure roller when placing the material in the machine, and operating means connected with the pressure roller and the shield for moving the said roller toward and from the measuring drum or cylinder and for carrying the shield simultaneously from and to the space between the pressure roller and the cylinder or drum.

2. A measuring machine of the class de scribed including a measuring cylinder, a pressure roller movable toward and from the cylinder, a shield pivotally mounted on the axis of the measuring cylinder and adapted to be interposed between the pressure roller and the cylinder and operating mechanism connected with the pressure roller and with the shield for simultaneously operating the same.

3. A measuring machine of the class described including a measuring cylinder, a pressure roller coacting with the cylinder, slidable bearing blocks supporting the pressure roller, guides supported by the machine receiving the blocks and interlocked therewith, adjustable plates also slidably interlocked with the guides and having openings, springs interposed between the plates and the blocks, adjusting screws engaging the plates at the openings thereof for controlling the tension of the springs and provided with openings and pins supporting the springs and extending through the openings of the plates into the openings of the screws.

4. A measuring machine of the class described including a frame, a measuring cylinder mounted on the frame and provided with needle points for engaging the fabric or other material, a pressure roller coacting with the cylinder for forcing the material into engagement with the needle points, a shield arranged at the cylinder adjacent to the pressure roller, means for moving the said roller toward and from the cylinder, and means for moving the shield to and from the space between the roller and the cylinder.

5. A measuring machine of the class described including a frame, a measuring cylinder mounted on the frame and provided with needle points, a pressure roller also mounted on the frame and coacting with the measuring cylinder and provided withv a yieldable surface adapted to have the needle points embedded in it, a shieldarranged adjacent to the pres-sure roller, means for shifting the shield to interpose the same between the cylinder and the roller and to carry it from such position and means for moving the pressure roller toward and from the cylinder.

6. A J'neasuring machine of the class described including a measuring cylinder, spindles or shafts provided with gripping devices for engaging a board for holding the material, said gripping devices compris ing a shank having a relatively fixed jaw and provided with exterior screw threads, a lever fulcrumed on the shank and having a jaw movable with respect to and coacting with the said jaw, said lever being also pro vided with an arm or portion arranged at an angle to the said jaw and a nut mounted on the threaded shank exteriorly of the said jaws and movable to and from the jaw of the lever and adapted to engage both its jaw and said angularly disposed portion of the same for holding the jaws in or out of engagement. v

7. A measuring machine of the class described including a frame, a measuring cylinder mounted on the frame, shafts or spindles carried by the frame and provided with gripping devices for engaging a board for holding the material, said gripping devlces comprising a shank having a relat1vely fixed aw and provided with screw threads, a lever fulcrumed on the shankv and provided with a jaw movable with respect to the fixed jaw and coacting with the same, said lever being provided with a projecting portion spaced from the movable jaw and a nut mounted on the threaded portion of the shank .and movable on the same to engage either the movable jaw or the projecting portion of the lever.

8. A measuring machine of the class described including a measuring cylinder and spaced spindles provided with means for engaging boards or other devices which hold the material, one of the spindles of each of the boards having adjustable supporting means comprising a slidable sleeve provided with a bearing, an adjustable bar extending into the sleeve, and a spring contained within the sleeve and interposed between the same andthe said bar for urging the sleeve inwardly.

9. A measuring machine of the class described including a frame, a measuring cylinder, spindles located at the sides of the frame and provided with means for holding a board or other device, brackets mounted on the frame at one side thereof, supporting bars adjustably secured in the brackets, hearing sleeves slidable at their outer portions on the supporting bars and having means for clamping the same, said sleeves carrying the adjacent spindles at their inner portions and springs arranged within the sleeves between the spindles and the supporting bars and arranged to urge the sleeves inwardly.

10. A measuring machine of the class described including a frame, a measuring cylinder, spindles located at the sides of the frame and provided with means for holding a board or other device, brackets mounted on the frame at one side thereof, polygonal supporting bars slidably mounted in the brackets and adjustable inwardly and outwardly, sleeves having outer polygonal portions arranged on the said supporting bars,

said sleeves being also provided with inner.

bearings receiving the said spindles, means for limiting the sliding movement of the sleeves, .means' for holding the sleeves in an adjusted position and springs located within the sleeves for urging the sleeves inwardly.

1.1. A measuring machine of the class described including a measuring cylinder, spindles arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the measuring cylinder, a pressure roller coacting with the cylinder, and a brake including a brake wheel connected with one of the spindles and provided with a grooved periphery, a brake block pivotally mounted on the machine and arranged to engage the brake wheel and fitting the groove of the same, a rod connected with the block, a spring disposed on said rod for urging the block in one direction, an adjusting device connected with the rod for moving the block in the opposite direction.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. BEAN.

Ccpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

